Democrat Baucus joins call for hearings on IRS actions

**Zacha341** · May-14-13, 05:32 AM

Full out in mainstream news [[can't be dismissed as right-wing kook-dom or talking points)... Even Dems are speaking out about it!

Democrat Baucus joins call for hearings on IRS actions

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...rings/2155307/

IRS admits to singling out groups for extra scrutiny

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50146595n

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/13/politi...ing/index.html

**compn** · May-14-13, 09:40 AM

i'm sure the IRS does this all the time with who it picks to AUDIT.
all of these non profits should be investigated, not just the political ones.
its the IRS who needs the audit!

**Zacha341** · May-15-13, 06:28 AM

Various response vids from dems and repubs; left and right:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/irs-tea-party-white-house_n_3275899.html#slide=2447718

**gnome** · May-15-13, 12:05 PM

The silence from our usual commenters, and Obama sycophants, is quite telling.

**lpg** · May-15-13, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

The silence from our usual commenters, and Obama sycophants, is quite telling.

Deafening actually...

**oladub** · May-17-13, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by gnome

The silence from our usual commenters, and Obama sycophants, is quite telling.

Some liberal fonts can no longer stand the Obama's assault either. Sen. Baucus, Slate, and Jon Stewart think that the Obama administration went too far when it used the IRS as a financial Gestapo to intimidate and financially maim Obama's critics. The assault on the privacy of AP reporters didn't win friends either. Assigning Holder to oversee any investigation now seems like hiring the fox to guard the henhouse.

"We are in the midst of the worst Washington scandal since Watergate. The reputation of the Obama White House has, among conservatives, gone from sketchy to sinister, and, among liberals, from unsatisfying to dangerous. No one likes what they're seeing. The Justice Department assault on the Associated Press and the ugly politicization of the Internal Revenue Service have left the administration's credibility deeply, probably irretrievably damaged. They don't look jerky now, they look dirty. The patina of high-mindedness the president enjoyed is gone.

Something big has shifted. The standing of the administration has changed." -[[conservative) Peggy Noonan

Jon Stewart's point of view isn't much different. He is offended by the stupidity of the Obama administration being just what the Tea Party claimed it to be.

**rb336** · May-17-13, 12:34 PM

we are silent because it is nonsense the right-wingers felt would have more legs than the Benghazi bullshit. It does in the media, but even right-wing pollsters @ Gallup acknowledge that no one gives a damn.

As rethuglicans are so fond of saying, if those organizations have nothing to hide, they shouldn't mind the scrutiny. Where were they when the IRS did the same thing with groups that had variants of "equal" in their names 10 years ago [[the IRS was under the same leadership then as with this one - a dubya appointee)?

**oladub** · May-17-13, 01:24 PM

Ah? True to form, rb, you side with everything from
illegal IRS takedowns to intimidation of administration critics or even those who report on the administration. I guess that "if those organizations [[or individuals) have nothing to hide, they shouldn't mind the scrutiny". Your support for Obama's executive ordered bombing of Libya which contributed toward Benghazi happening is consistent with your other stands. Such is rb's Amerika. There is even a gap between your perspective and Jon Stewart's perspective previously linked. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuRTUdo5V84

How about if the government had nothing to hide, having an independent investigation of this criminal abuse by government instead of having Holder cover it up? Because, Obama should have nothing to hide, right? As previously noted, at least Nixon had the grace and integrity to step aside instead of feigning ignorance and incompetence.

I would like you to go on though explaining how something which may or may not have been done ten years ago or not yet measurable by Gallup makes any of this ok. It would make an interesting political morality lesson. I take a contrary view. Something done 10 years ago does not excuse this, I would be quite happy to make W. Bush Obama's cell mate were that possible.

**Zacha341** · May-17-13, 01:47 PM

Precisely - interestingly. Just goes to show that the dems often do and or allow the same as the repubs...

The increasing strong arm of the law is a problem whoever the 'blue and black' suits behind podiums in front of flash bulbs and mikes are.

Originally Posted by rb336

Where were they when the IRS did the same thing with groups that had variants of "equal" in their names 10 years ago [[the IRS was under the same leadership then as with this one - a dubya appointee)?

**Zacha341** · May-17-13, 01:55 PM

"Ignorance [[1) and Incompetence [[2)" that is not going to wash out well in the final rinse-cycle... Door number 3 please!

Originally Posted by oladub

How about if the government had nothing to hide, having an independent investigation of this criminal abuse by government instead of having Holder cover it up? Because, Obama should have nothing to hide, right? As previously noted, at least Nixon had the grace and integrity to step aside instead of feigning ignorance and incompetence.

**Danny** · May-17-13, 02:51 PM

Can our government trust us? NO!

**rb336** · May-17-13, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Precisely - interestingly. Just goes to show that the dems often do and or allow the same as the repubs...

The increasing strong arm of the law is a problem whoever the 'blue and black' suits behind podiums in front of flash bulbs and mikes are.

They are two sides of the same coin - ceding government to corporate interests. And the libertarians are the worst of the lot. I have joined a third party - the Justice Party. look 'em up

**Bobl** · May-18-13, 12:05 AM

Why are political organizations of any kind allowed to pose as charities in order to enjoy tax free status and keep their donors secret, while I, and most of you, must pay taxes and subsidize them?

**Zacha341** · May-18-13, 01:12 AM

Umm, yeah. My thoughts precisely - one coin, flip it here, flip it there.

Originally Posted by rb336

They are two sides of the same coin - ceding government to corporate interests. And the libertarians are the worst of the lot. I have joined a third party - the Justice Party. look 'em up

**gnome** · May-18-13, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Bobl

Why are political organizations of any kind allowed to pose as charities in order to enjoy tax free status and keep their donors secret, while I, and most of you, must pay taxes and subsidize them?

Now that is an intelligent question. Why indeed do we support such groups, especially as their aim is to control our public and private lives with their legislative initiatives.

**gnome** · May-18-13, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by rb336

They are two sides of the same coin - ceding government to corporate interests. And the libertarians are the worst of the lot. I have joined a third party - the Justice Party. look 'em up

Weak cheese. The oldest dodge in the book, "waa waa, they are all corrupt ! Waaa!"

**Zacha341** · May-18-13, 07:35 AM

Resonance Resistant

Interesting article:

According to a Gallup report released Thursday, “The amount of attention Americans are paying to the I.R.S. and the Benghazi situations is well below the average for news stories Gallup has tracked over the years.” [[The Associated Press phone records case wasn’t mentioned.) Why might this be?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/op...istant.html?hp

**rb336** · May-18-13, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by gnome

Weak cheese. The oldest dodge in the book, "waa waa, they are all corrupt ! Waaa!"

sorry, but they are. and they will remain so as long as you and I continue to vote for the lesser of two evils. The only way I will vote for a democrat again is if they run Elizabeth Warren for president

**firstandten** · May-18-13, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Resonance Resistant

Interesting article:

According to a Gallup report released Thursday, “The amount of attention Americans are paying to the I.R.S. and the Benghazi situations is well below the average for news stories Gallup has tracked over the years.” [[The Associated Press phone records case wasn’t mentioned.) Why might this be?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/op...istant.html?hp

You can only scream the "sky is falling so much" such as the right wing likes to do then you stop looking up. The last election was a statement that the people trust Obama and his administration to do the right thing as much as Mitt was a weak candidate. Repubs like to throw stuff up against the wall hoping something will eventually stick. Well, the downside to that is that when there is a true policy situation that the people need to hold Obama's feet to the fire to they won't because of just plain political fatigue.

**oladub** · May-18-13, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by firstandten

You can only scream the "sky is falling so much" such as the right wing likes to do then you stop looking up. The last election was a statement that the people trust Obama and his administration to do the right thing as much as Mitt was a weak candidate. Repubs like to throw stuff up against the wall hoping something will eventually stick. Well, the downside to that is that when there is a true policy situation that the people need to hold Obama's feet to the fire to they won't because of just plain political fatigue.

Ron Paul agrees with President Obama that the politicizing of the Benghazi debacle is a "sideshow" but he goes a step further and addresses a larger problem.

“The real lesson of Benghazi will not be learned because neither Republicans nor Democrats want to hear it.” “But it is our interventionist foreign policy and its unintended consequences that have created these problems, including the attack and murder of Ambassador Stevens. The disputed talking points and White House whitewashing are just a sideshow.” -Ron Paul

I disagree with the NY Times spin article analysis of the Gallup Poll. However the Times article does present the numbers. Those following the Benghazi story closely or very closely are 66% of Republicans, 52% of independents, and 45% of Democrats. Those following the misuse of the IRS closely or very closely include 67% of Republicans, 55% of independents, and 40% of Democrats. I suspect that that the majority of Republicans and independents will be less willing to trust government from now on under Obama. As one of the Times readers wrote:

"Getting half of American following anything political is startling. Most of America is watching "Dancing with the Stars" and "Duck Dynasty."

**jerrytimes** · June-01-13, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by rb336

we are silent because it is nonsense the right-wingers felt would have more legs than the Benghazi bullshit. It does in the media, but even right-wing pollsters @ Gallup acknowledge that no one gives a damn.

As rethuglicans are so fond of saying, if those organizations have nothing to hide, they shouldn't mind the scrutiny. Where were they when the IRS did the same thing with groups that had variants of "equal" in their names 10 years ago [[the IRS was under the same leadership then as with this one - a dubya appointee)?

You have to be joking? Please PLEASE tell me you are.... You know that if a Repub was in office and Liberal groups were targeted you would, and should be, outraged. Do you really think that the Benghazi story is nothing to look into??? It has nothing to do with the party of the man in charge... It's simply that these are things that we do not tolerate in the United States of America.

**rb336** · June-02-13, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by jerrytimes

You have to be joking? Please PLEASE tell me you are.... You know that if a Repub was in office and Liberal groups were targeted you would, and should be, outraged. Do you really think that the Benghazi story is nothing to look into??? It has nothing to do with the party of the man in charge... It's simply that these are things that we do not tolerate in the United States of America.

More organizations with "progress" were targeted than tea party groups. Let's be clear, neither progressive or reactionary groups should be able to pose a charities and should not be eligible for the designation this "scandal" is about. Target them all because they are all perpetrating a fraud by applying.

**Zacha341** · June-02-13, 08:27 AM

There are varied organizations [[liberal and conservative) and groups that seek exempt status...

Upper part of this link provides an IRS exemption break down chart:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...roups/2158831/

**Zacha341** · June-02-13, 08:39 AM

IRS Official to Plead the Fifth; Lawmakers Irked

From article:

Lerner’s refusal to speak raises questions about whether her testimony would have implicated the White House, or exposed criminal activity or misrepresentations on her part. She has exchanged correspondence with the oversight committee about the IRS matter but did not disclose her knowledge of the agency’s targeting of conservative groups, according to a letter Issa wrote to Lerner last week.

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/art...#ixzz2V49LBfZW
Follow us: @RCP_Articles on Twitter

**Zacha341** · June-02-13, 08:41 AM

Well stated! If we cannot remove partisan blinders just for a bit.... well.......

Originally Posted by jerrytimes

...if a Repub was in office and Liberal groups were targeted you would, and should be, outraged. Do you really think that the Benghazi story is nothing to look into??? It has nothing to do with the party of the man in charge... It's simply that these are things that we do not tolerate in the United States of America.